Sunday, July 24, 2011

The Urban Biking Handbook

I have the most amazing little brother, I really do. He has like three jobs, runs his own business and volunteers at a really cool place called "The Bicycle Kitchen." As of today, his latest accomplishment is available to the public. I thought I would take this opportunity to brag (as any big sister would) and to share his awesome new book, that I am sure a lot of you would enjoy! I interviewed him below:

Merritt Kirkpatrick: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Charles Haine: I'm a filmmaker living in Los Angeles, California with the firm Dirty Robber (dirtyrobber.com) I have been riding bicycles my whole life, and fixing them in various ways for the last 13 years. I spent 7 years volunteering at the Bicycle Kitchen in East Hollywood teaching others how to repair their bicycle.

MK: What do you do when you are not writing?

CH: I write books, ride my bicycle, direct commercials, music videos and book trailers for Dirty Robber, and teaching at Los Angeles City College.

MK: Do you have a day job as well?

CH: Partner in my production company.

MK: How did this project get started?CH: My wonderful editor Rochelle Bourgault from Quarry Books got in touch with the Bicycle Kitchen looking for volunteers who would be interested in writing a DIY/City Culture focused book on bicycling, and I was instantly excited. We talked for several months to develop a solidoutline for the book and really got on the same page in terms of what we were looking for.

MK: What can you tell us about the book?

CH: Well, I think the book is the ideal balance of knowledge about both cycles and city cyclingalong with technical info and DIY repair stuff. It's not as dry and diagram filled as a traditional repair book and it has more focus on things that can be done at home without a lot of tools, and the kinds of repairs and whatnot that you might run into with a vintage thriftstore bike as opposed to a brand new hybrid.

MK: What do you hope that people gain from the book?

CH: I hope people gain both insight in and enthusiasm for the bicycle as a part of a full life. The bicycle is a world-changing tool and I think that a lot of people who would be more likely to ride, and would ride often, if they knew what simple machines they are.

MK: Any books on the horizon?

CH: Not at the moment, but someday.

MK: Who has the best sister in the world?

CH: Craig Robinson! Just kidding, me:)

MK: Thanks, Charles! I am totally giving this as a Christmas gift to all of my bike-loving friends! :)